County population in 2023: 27,822 (35% urban, 65% rural); it was 29,881 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,398 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,203 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 9,265 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,373 (it was 2,822 in 2000)
% of renters here:
23%
State:
31%
Land area: 514 sq. mi.
Water area: 1.8 sq. mi.
Population density: 54 people per square mile (average).
December 2024 cost of living index in Union County: 80.6 (low, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (26.8%), Educational, health and social services (20.1%), Retail trade (10.1%).
Estimated median household income in 2023: $41,807 ($31,441 in 1999)
This county:
$41,807
South Carolina:
$67,804
Median contract rent in 2023 for apartments: $553 (lower quartile is $334, upper quartile is $661)
This county:
$553
State:
$972
Estimated median house or condo value in 2023: $115,294 (it was $56,600 in 2000)
Union:
$115,294
South Carolina:
$272,900
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $62,320 - $184,394 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $1,005 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $369
Institutionalized population: 441
Crime in 2023 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 19
Burglaries: 14
Thefts: 100
Auto thefts: 11
Crime in 2022 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 1
Rapes: 6
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 49
Burglaries: 57
Thefts: 322
Auto thefts: 45
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2023: $809 (0.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2023: $473 (0.5%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2023: 22.2%
Union County:
22.2%
South Carolina:
13.9%
(21.1% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 21.2% for Black residents, 43.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 3.3% for American Indian residents, 75.0% for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander residents, 46.9% for other race residents, 35.9% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2023: 44.7 years old
(Males: 43.0 years old, Females: 46.1 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 47.2 years old, Black residents: 42.8 years old, American Indian residents: 52.4 years old, Asian residents: 33.5 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 26.4 years old, Other race residents: 36.8 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Union County is $401 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $481 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $664 a month.
Current college students: 967 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 80.7% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 13.5%
Number of foreign born residents: 347 (46.6% naturalized citizens)
Union County:
1.2%
Whole state:
5.9%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1472010 or later
632000 to 2009
901990 to 1999
481980 to 1989
221970 to 1979
60Before 1970
Mean travel time to work (commute): minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 98.6%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 9,559
One, attached: 33
Two: 238
3 or 4: 322
5 to 9: 300
10 to 19: 47
20 to 49: 414
50 or more: 115
Mobile homes: 2,808
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 40
Housing units in Union County with a mortgage: 2,964 (186 second mortgage, 0 home equity loan, 143 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 109
Here:
1.8% with mortgage
State:
97.5% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Union County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
16,533
50
Black Protestant
3,424
19
Mainline Protestant
3,180
20
Other
210
1
Catholic
50
1
None
5,564
-
Union County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 6
Union County:
2.16 / 10,000 pop.
State:
1.99 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 3
This county:
1.08 / 10,000 pop.
South Carolina:
0.85 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 22
Union County:
7.92 / 10,000 pop.
South Carolina:
5.38 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 14
This county:
5.04 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.75 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Union County:
12.2%
South Carolina:
10.6%
Adult obesity rate:
Union County:
32.1%
State:
29.4%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
12.5%
State:
13.4%
Agriculture in Union County:
Average size of farms: 170 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $5,763 Average total farm production expenses per farm: $11,255 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 11.80% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $24,437 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 94.31% Average age of principal farm operators: 59 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 14.01 Vegetables: 62 harvested acres
Earthquake activity:
Union County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above South Carolina state average. It is 7% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 77.1 miles away from Union County center On 8/9/2020 at 12:07:37, a magnitude 5.1 (5.1 MW, Depth: 4.7 mi, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 124.9 miles away from the county center On 8/23/2011 at 17:51:04, a magnitude 5.8 (5.8 MW, Depth: 3.7 mi) earthquake occurred 301.0 miles away from the county center On 11/22/1974 at 05:25:55, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB) earthquake occurred 151.4 miles away from the county center On 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 152.4 miles away from Union County center On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK) earthquake occurred 273.8 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
South Carolina Covid-19 Pandemic, Incident Period: January 20, 2020, FEMA Id: 4492, Natural disaster type: Other
South Carolina Hurricane Irma, Incident Period: September 6, 2017 - September 13, 2017, FEMA Id: 4346, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
South Carolina Hurricane Matthew, Incident Period: October 04, 2016 to October 30, 2016, Emergency Declared EM-3378: October 06, 2016, FEMA Id: 3378, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
South Carolina Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: October 01, 2015 to October 23, 2015, Emergency Declared EM-3373: October 03, 2015, FEMA Id: 3373, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
South Carolina Severe Winter Storm, Incident Period: February 10, 2014 to February 19, 2014, Emergency Declared EM-3369: February 12, 2014, FEMA Id: 3369, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
South Carolina Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3233: September 10, 2005, FEMA Id: 3233, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
South Carolina Severe Ice Storm, Incident Period: January 26, 2004 to January 30, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1509: February 13, 2004, FEMA Id: 1509, Natural disaster type: Ice Storm
South Carolina Severe Ice Storm, Incident Period: December 04, 2002 to December 06, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1451: January 08, 2003, FEMA Id: 1451, Natural disaster type: Ice Storm
South Carolina Winter Storms, Incident Period: January 22, 2000 to February 01, 2000, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1313: January 31, 2000, FEMA Id: 1313, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
South Carolina Flooding, Severe Storm, Incident Period: October 11, 1990 to October 28, 1990, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-881: October 22, 1990, FEMA Id: 881, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
12 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Union County (22) is near the US average (19). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 4 Emergencies Declared: 5
Causes of natural disasters: Hurricanes: 11, Floods: 2, Ice Storms: 2, Storms: 2, Winter Storms: 2, Drought: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Other: 3 (Note: some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (11%)
Material moving occupations (10%)
Construction and extraction occupations (10%)
Transportation occupations (7%)
Office and administrative support occupations (6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Production occupations (14%)
Office and administrative support occupations (12%)
Healthcare support occupations (9%)
Sales and related occupations (8%)
Educational instruction, and library occupations (7%)
Material moving occupations (7%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (6%)
Mexico (40%)
India (13%)
Honduras (11%)
Peru (8%)
Germany (7%)
United Kingdom, excluding England and Scotland (5%)
Lithuania (5%)
American (19%)
English (9%)
Irish (7%)
German (4%)
Italian (2%)
European (1%)
Scottish (1%)
People in group quarters in Union County, South Carolina in 2010:
201 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
81 people in correctional facilities intended for juveniles
80 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
79 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
58 people in group homes intended for adults
4 people in residential treatment centers for adults
People in group quarters in Union County, South Carolina in 2000:
125 people in nursing homes
123 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
68 people in short-term care, detention or diagnostic centers for delinquent children
39 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
34 people in homes for the mentally retarded
28 people in training schools for juvenile delinquents
9 people in other group homes
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2020 was $45,259.
4.37% of this county's 2021 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2020 ($35,545 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.37%
South Carolina average:
8.89%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.32% relocated from other counties in South Carolina ($26,958 average AGI)
1.05% relocated from other states ($8,587 average AGI)
Union County:
1.05%
South Carolina average:
4.96%
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2020 and 2021:
4.77% of this county's 2020 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2021 ($40,043 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.77%
South Carolina average:
7.46%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
4.12% relocated to other counties in South Carolina ($35,357 average AGI)
0.65% relocated to other states ($4,686 average AGI)
Union County:
0.65%
South Carolina average:
3.47%
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2020 and 2021:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 12.9 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 12.0
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.7 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2009: 12.6 Deaths per 1000 population from 2010 to 2020: 14.3
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 10.9 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 11.1
Population without health insurance coverage in 2018: 11.8% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2018: 4.0%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Union County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 6,469 (4,528 aged, 1,941 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 459 (7%)
Most common underlying causes of death in Union County, South Carolina in 1999 - 2019:
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (509)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (199)
Unspecified dementia (174)
Alzheimer disease, unspecified (85)
Congestive heart failure (69)
Cardiomegaly (35)
Hypertensive heart disease without (congestive) heart failure (33)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 13% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 3.46 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 13,180 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 762 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 56,417
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,086 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,381 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 7
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 20 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 46
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 7
Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996: 1
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 177.9. This is more than state average.
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 158.2
Other - 19.8
Household type by relationship:
Households: 27,822
Male householders: 4,969 (1,980 living alone), Female householders: 7,398 (2,433 living alone)
2,335 married couples with children.
2,383 single-parent households (317 men, 2,066 women).
97.8% of residents of Union speak English at home.
1.5% of residents speak Spanish at home (50% speak English very well, 31% speak English well, 10% speak English not well, 9% don't speak English at all).
0.5% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (65% speak English very well, 35% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (65% speak English very well, 35% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English very well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $166,990,000 ($5,786 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $5,449,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $87,066,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $37,662,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $525,000 Federal grants: $35,602,000 Federal procurement contracts: $1,050,000 ($219,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $5,084,000 ($1,379,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $426,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $2,197,000 Federal Government insurance: $352,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,845
Here:
65 per 1000 residents
State:
69 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,923
Here:
67 per 1000 residents
State:
46 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +26
Here:
+1 per 1000 residents
State:
+9 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -1,237
Here:
-43 per 1000 residents
State:
+27 per 1000 residents
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 4.25 millions of gallons per day (all from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.7
State:
6.4
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
4.4
Year house built in Union County, South Carolina
642020 or later
5682010 to 2019
1,2012000 to 2009
1,8831990 to 1999
1,3051980 to 1989
2,4671970 to 1979
2,0501960 to 1969
1,3271950 to 1959
7421940 to 1949
1,7781939 or earlier
Rooms in houses/apartments in Union County, South Carolina
Cars and other vehicles available in Union County in owner-occupied houses/condos
537no vehicle
2,4391 vehicle
3,2602 vehicles
1,5373 vehicles
5144 vehicles
4165+ vehicles
Cars and other vehicles available in Union County in renter-occupied apartments
923no vehicle
1,4891 vehicle
1,0732 vehicles
1493 vehicles
284 vehicles
325+ vehicles
90.6% of Union County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 32% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 88% lived in South Carolina.
Union County:
90.6%
State average:
87.6%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 22,057
Other state: 4,734
Northeast: 1,218
Midwest: 760
South: 2,396
West: 348
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Union County
(47.0%)
(53.0%)
, Clay County, North Carolina 
1.48% ($34,341 average AGI)
+27 per 1000 residents
